OTTAWA — The Niagara region is set to welcome some of the best wrestlers in the country this week for the 2026 Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships and Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials. The event, which will be held at Canada Games Park, will see the U23 Championships contested on June 26, before the Senior World Team Trials for non-Olympic weights take place on June 27.

“We are pleased to return to Canada Games Park and the Niagara Region for the second consecutive year,” said Tamara Medwidsky, CEO of Wrestling Canada Lutte. “Their strong commitment to this event has helped create an excellent championship experience for everyone involved. The Canadian U23 Championships and Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials provide an important opportunity for U23 and senior athletes to compete against the best in the country as they prepare for a busy international season. We thank our hosts, partners and volunteers for their continued support of wrestling in Canada.”

“Hosting the U23 Championships and Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials for a second straight year is a tremendous honour for the Brock Wrestling Club. Bringing Canada’s top next-generation athletes and world team hopefuls to Canada Games Park highlights both the strength of wrestling in our region and Niagara’s ability to stage premier national events,” said Dave Collie, Host Committee Chair.

The event will feature many notable competitors on both the women’s and men’s side in the U23 and senior division. Among the U23 women set to compete is Hamilton’s Serena Di Benedetto at 53kg. Di Benedetto, from Hamilton WC, is a former World U23 silver medalist having won it in 2024. Already this year, she captured a silver medal at the Senior Pan-Am Championships and a bronze at the FISU World University Combat Championships.

The men’s U23 division will be highlighted by Abbotsford, British Columbia’s Jorawar Dhinsa. Dhinsa, from Burnaby Mountain WC, has had a strong start to 2026. Not only did he win the Senior Canadian Championship at 125kg, but he also captured silver medals at both the 2026 Senior and U23 Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships.

Representing the host club, Brock, will be Beamsville, Ontario’s Cassie Corbett. Corbett recently donned the Maple Leaf at the 2026 FISU World University Combat Championships where she won a silver medal at 72kg.

In the senior women’s division all eyes will be on Montreal’s Laurence Beauregard at 59kg. Beauregard, from Montreal WC, won a bronze medal at 59kg at the 2025 World Championships in Croatia. She will look to once again earn her spot to represent Canada and aim to return to the podium.

As for the men, a name to watch will be North York, Ontario’s Lachlan McNeil. McNeil, from Team Impact WC and a three-time NCAA All-American, had a strong showing at the Canadian Senior Championships, winning the 74kg (Olympic weight) class after making the jump from 65kg. Now, he is looking to add to that when he competes at the non-Olympic weight of 70kg.

Leading the local contingent will be St. Catharines, Ontario’s Garette Saunders. Saunders, from Brock WC, will compete at 61kg. He recently won a bronze medal at the 2026 Senior Pan-Am Championships, his second in as many years at the event.

With so much at stake, and so many talented competitors in action, you won’t want to miss a second of this event. Spectators are invited to attend, and tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit the tournament site. The event will also be streamed on FloWrestling.